Potential NBA Offseason Trade Candidates
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The NBA season has concluded with the Denver Nuggets capturing their first championship in franchise history. Now the fun begins, as the NBA offseason is set to kick off. The NBA draft is next week on June 22nd with a body of stars on the way to the league.
However, there should be fireworks leading up to the draft. With limited free agents available this off season, it's the trade market that is the talk of the off season. There have been rumors swirling since the trade deadline this past season, and now big names are rumored to be available in trades. We break down who is possibly available via a trade and the likelihood that they are moved or not.
Damian Lillard - PG - Portland Trail Blazers
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This might be the biggest name on the market that's not on the market yet. While there has been discussions about Damian Lillard possibly being traded, there has never been any traction on a trade in the past 3-4 years. Lillardn made big news during an interview on Showtime last week when discussing the idea of a trade. But ESPN insider Brian Windhorst hasn't heard anything from Lillard's camp or the Trail Blazers organization about a trade. "They publicly haven’t sounded like they want to trade him. I can tell you privately the Blazers aren’t interested in trading him right now either,” Windhorst said on ESPN's Get Up.
Damian Lillard is 32 years old and has been nothing but loyal to the Portland Trail Blazers. But Portland hasn't been able to get past the a Western Conference Finals, only showing one with Lillard. The Blazers have already moved CJ McCollum and Lillard has been on his own for the last few season with injuries. Both sides would be better off separating and finding a viable trade partner. He's been linked to Brooklyn, Lakers, Sixers and most notably the Miami Heat.
Verdict: Trade
Bradley Beal - SG - Washington Wizards
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Bradley Beal has been rumored to be on the trade block for the last 3 years as well. However it looked like there was never any traction on a trade. With a new front office taking over, the Wizards are working with Beal's agents to find a trade according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Beal is in the 2nd year of a monster 5-year/$251M contract.
The catch 22 with Beal's contract is that it also includes a full no-trade clause. Next season Beal is scheduled to make $46M and has a player option of $57M for the 2026-27 season. Beal is heading into year 12 but the chances that it's in Washington seen to be remote. With Porzingus expected to opt out of his current contract, the wizards could be in full rebuild mode. Teams have already expressed interest, including the Knicks.
Verdict: Trade
Zion Williamson - PF - New Orleans Pelicans
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Zion hasn't been the lights out #1 draft pick the Pelicans hoped for. He has a world of potential but can't stay on the court. Williamson has played 4 NBA seasons, but he has played a total of 114 games. That works out to an average of 28.5 games per season. But when he's on the court the last two seasons, he has averaged 26.7 points on 61 percent shooting, 7.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists.
As we inch closer to the NBA draft, there are rumors that the Pelicans are interested in moving Zion to land in the top 3. There are so many questions about Zion's desire to play in New Orleans and his preference to be in a larger market like New York. He also needs to dedicate himself to being in shape and ready to play a full season.
Verdict: Stays
Karl Anthony Towns - PF - Minnesota Timberwolves
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The Minnesota Timberwolves underachieved this season after they swing big to acquire Rudy Gobert last offseason. The Wolves traded multiple future 1st round pick (too many in the chef's opinion) to the Utah Jazz to leave the big man. The Wolves for better or worse are committed to Gobert and younger players Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels. Edwards and McDaniels are extension-eligible this offseason and there's no way they can afford to part with them. Karl-Anthony Towns is the odd man out, as he wasn't healthy all year, and had another disappointing playoff run.
If the team pays their young stars, with Gobert and Towns already on the books, they will be above the 2nd CBA apron in 2024-25. That means Towns could be in the trader block as a cost cutting measure. The Rockets and Knicks have already been linked to the All Star forward and the Knicks have always been on KAT's radar.
Verdict: Trade
Jaylen Brown - SG - Boston Celtics
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The Boston Celtics had a rough season starting with the Udoka issue and the disappointing ECF loss to the Miami Heat. This team was poised to take the next step towards a championship, but two two steps back. The Celtics face two critical decisions this offseason: a potential extension for Jaylen Brown and Grant Williams' restricted free agency. Jaylen Brown is an All-Star , made All-NBA second-team and became eligible for a supermax 5 year / $295MM+ extension.
The issue is that Jayson Tatum is also eligible for a supermax contract for 5 years / $318MM. Locking up the team's projected $134MM salary cap space with two players when you have Williams, Smart and a team to pay seems impossible. The Celtics will probably invest in the Brown / Tatum combo for one more year until the new collective bargaining agreement's rules kick in. This year is shaping up to be a make it break year in Boston.
Verdict:
Jordan Poole - SG - Golden State Warriors
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Jordan Poole is the most interesting on this list because he's not blatantly available in trades. The Warriors are not rumored to be actively shopping Poole. However, he could be part of a trade if the Warriors can get a good package in return. Last season, after signing a 4-year, $123M extension, he played in all 82 games and averaged 20.4 points and 4.5 assists per game. But Poole struggled mightily in the playoffs, almost to the point where he was out of the rotation.
The Warriors have big decisions to make for their older key players like Draymond Green and Klay Thompson. With the new CBA in place, if the Warriors bring everyone back, they will have a large tax bill. Between players and taxes, they could pay closer to $1B next season.
Verdict: Stays
Paul George - SF - Los Angeles Clippers
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The LA Clippers are another team that's in that try again or blow it up mode. The Clippers have a contending roster when healthy, but it's the health of their 2 superstars that holds this team back. When their main stars aren't available, especially in the postseason, it makes it hard to keep going into the season with this roster
The two stars, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, are up for significant extensions this off season. Both players have player options at $48.8MM for the 2024-25 season. The Clippers are already into the luxury tax and second apron, but this coming year could be the last run with the two star forwards. George is the only valuable piece worth discussing in a trade as Kawhi's knee is getting worse by the day. But the Clippers are moving into a new arena and need starts to put butts in the seats.
Verdict: Stays
Zack Lavine - SF - Chicago Bulls
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The Bulls are in a strange limbo in deciding to either blow up this roster that hasn't won anything or potentially starting a rebuild. The Bulls are looking once again to see how much trade interest in Zach LaVine there is around the league according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. LaVine is in the 2nd year of a 5-yr/$215M contract. Last season, LaVine played in 77 games for the Bulls in his all Star campaign. The injury plagued forward played in the most games since the 2015-16 season.
However, that season his name came up a lot at the trade deadline as a potential moved. Peace. The combination of Levine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic has never lived up to its full potential. It might be time to move on
Verdict: Trade
